History of your Surname
Get access to Charlson family records.Start a free trial

Charlson Family History

Charlson Name Meaning

Americanized form of Danish and Norwegian Carlsen or Karlsen and Swedish Carlsson or Karlsson . English (Lancashire) and Scottish (Caithness): patronymic from the personal name Charles . The personal name was very rare in England and Scotland until the 16th century and even then uncommon so the surname may be of late formation (15th–16th centuries).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Carlson, Carlston, Karlson, Larison, Charleson, Thorson, Charlton

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Charlson family from?

You can see how Charlson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Charlson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Charlson families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 166 Charlson families living in Lancashire. This was about 54% of all the recorded Charlson's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Charlson families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Charlson surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Charlson ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Operative Cotton Spinner and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Charlson. 50% of Charlson men worked as an Operative Cotton Spinner and 84% of Charlson women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Charlson were Cotton Spinner and Domestic Servant. .

View Census Data for Charlson | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Operative Cotton Spinner
    50%
  • Cotton Spinner
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    84%
  • Shorthand Typist
    6%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Domestic Servant
    4%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Charlson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 7,000 census records available for the last name Charlson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Charlson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Charlson

Passenger Lists

There are 895 immigration records available for the last name Charlson. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Charlson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 947 military records available for the last name Charlson. For the veterans among your Charlson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Charlson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Charlson family history

Discover More

What is the average Charlson lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Charlson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1941, and highest in 1983. The average life expectancy for Charlson in 1941 was 43, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Charlson

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Charlson family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Charlson last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial